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Monday, 26 June 2017

The “William Charter” – archive treasure …

The Guildhall put on what has to be the smallest exhibition
ever … if the items were 950 years old, then really it is amazing they still
exist … but they are: signed, sealed, delivered, still going strong, released
from the archives and on show …

The Guildhall

The two items also set in motion the establishment of the City
of London (the Square Mile, as it is sometimes known) – the trading, business
and financial centre of the UK – 950 years ago.

City of London flag

William, the Conqueror, after his success at the Battle of
Hastings (in 1066 AD) marched north to take London … William wanted to
safeguard this prosperity, recognising its importance as a centre of trade and
wealth.

City of LondonCoat of Arms

The leaders of the Anglo-Saxon court (intelligently) surrendered
peacefully, and were rewarded with the Charter, which over time proved
beneficial to both parties.

This Charter declared that William would not reduce the
citizens to a state of dependent vassalage, as usually happened in the larger
towns … William was a ruthless, but wise conqueror.

The "William Charter" with his Seal dated 1067

The peoples of the City were able to continue their work and
trade without general administrative interference …

It is written in Old English, and not in William’s native
Norman French … the degree of autonomy which it guaranteed has been valued and
defended by the City ever since.

This international character of London was noted by the
Charter addressing both the French and English residents and treating them with
equal status.

The explanatory board at the Exhibition -the text is set out below

The document is very significant, apart from its 950 years’
survival, because it guaranteed the collective rights of Londoners.

Nothing new was given … but it confirmed the citizen’s rights
and privileges already in existence … confirming that the succession to
property was not subject to arbitrary royal intervention.

“William,
King, greets William the Bishop and Geoffrey the Portreeve, and all the
citizens in London, French and English, in friendly fashion; and I inform you
that it is my will that your laws and customs be preserved as they were in King
Edward’s day, that every son shall be his father’s heir after his father’s
death; and that I will not any man do wrong to you. God yield you”.

The Tower of London, built by William, resides outside of the
City’s east wall.

The Charter and Seal as displayed

This precious tiny piece of vellum measures six inches by one
and a half inches … the two slits were relevant and used … the larger one as a
seal-tongue (holding the seal to the document) and the other as a tie (when the
document was folded and transported).

The City from the south side of the Thames: the Toweris in the right-hand corner (east side of this image)

The Seal is one of the earliest surviving examples from
William’s reign.

This Charter is one of over 100 held in the archives, which
different sovereigns have issued for the Citizens of London - enabling the City
to keep its unique position.

The City of London Corporation is unlike any other
administrative body in the UK and has some unusual responsibilities for a local
council, as well as having responsibilities and ownerships beyond its
boundaries.

Common Council Journal for Burnham Beeches(1880) - with cover displayed separately

Here I show the cover of the Common Council Journal and minute
book as at 1880 … for Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire … which the
Corporation still owns and has jurisdiction over … as per this Notice (re dog fouling!) to
be effective 1 December 2017! (It is a .pdf)

This incredible glimpse into history came from the London
Metropolitan Archives whose holding of records, documents, films, photographs
and maps take up the equivalent of 100 km (62 miles) of archives.

The pretty unprepossessing main entrance of theLondon Metropolitan Archives (a free resource) -with significant contents, which 30,000 people visitevery year and many more access digitally

This was an opportunity I could not afford to miss and be able
to post up for you to read … a rare opportunity to view the treasures held in
trust for the nation.

Through these two items – the Charter and the Seal – are the
key to how William won the support of London and how the City itself began to
gain its special autonomy.

This tiny square mile, the City, in the metropolis of London
still exists and maintains its unique status, with its ancient City traditions
…

… going back to Roman, Anglo-Saxon times before being
‘chartered’ by William the Conqueror in 1067 – which the authorities of London
have held, archived and maintained for the nation for over nine hundred and fifty years.

46 comments:

What an amazing exhibition. William may have been ruthless, but he was an incredibly practical and wise man wasn't he?He was responsible for the creation of the Domesday Book as well wasn't he? Something that historians amd archaeologists today are still grateful for.

A neat history lesson, Hilary. I was blown over when I saw the charter at the Guildhall when visiting the art gallery and Roman amphitheatre earlier in the year http://bitaboutbritain.com/art-and-the-amphitheatre/ I was particularly impressed that William had it written in the vernacular, rather than Norman-French or Latin; clever boy - he needed London on side. Love the Guildhall - memories of lunches there in those amazing surroundings.

This is interesting, Hilary. I didn't realize that London was called the Square Mile, and most of these other wonderful details. Appreciate you capturing the details and personality of this rich historical gem. Have a great week! :)

Fascinating Hilary. I had never heard of William granting such rights to the City of London before. My history was never good as a child, I have learned so much more since I left school. The Archives is a huge place isn't it, would take forever to really see everything. I read a book about William the Conqueror years ago and it actually seemed to me his wife, Mathilda I think, had a lot to do with his wisdom. She was a very clever woman.

The rule about picking up after our dogs is much the same, here in Lakewood, Colorado. All the parks have green boxes that dispense baggies for just that purpose. However, people can ride their horses on many of the trails and are not required to pick up after them. Go figure.

I enjoy your bits on history. Y'all have so much more of it than do we.

@ EC – it was a few tiny exhibits – but of how much value … immeasurable. William was ruthless, but a very practical and wise man …

Yes he was responsible for commissioning the Domesday books … different ones for sections of the country … perhaps I should write about them … and yes we refer to them constantly – they are invaluable too …

@ Mel – perhaps she should be reminded …

@ Bazza – I’ve never seen the interior properly … I usually pop in for a specific exhibition, glance around (I’m afraid!) and leave for another exhibition … you are right I need to look further. Yes 1066 and onwards was how Britain or England at that stage became ‘set in stone’ so to speak … we needed a few extras … as you mention the Magna Carta …

@ Alex – yes, the Minute books back in the days were blank books with pages pasted in … but the Charter is an incredible record … and that the City know what they are entitled to …

@ Karen – the ‘Square Mile’ is a nickname for the area of what is known as ‘the city’ …

@ Steve – yes it is a tiny very powerful text record isn’t it … and wonderful to know we have such things tucked away in our archives …

@ Diane – It is extraordinary that these two items have survived and apparently in such good condition …

Raleigh and his wife were imprisoned in the Tower … and yes you’re right – Raleigh North Carolina was named after Sir Walter …

@ Jo – Well I know my history was definitely not good as a child, nor later, til I started blogging then I started to learn … The Archives do seem like a magnificent place – I think I need to visit sometime.

I wrote about William and Mathilda when I posted about St Nicolas Church Pevensey … August and then the 2nd part in November last year (2016) … quite detailed information there … and yes she was probably under estimated for many a century …

@ Pat – it is extraordinary … the crystal sceptre (600years+) has also survived intact … we are lucky in this country …

@ Claudia – yes we have regulations too, boxes for the droppings etc and the expectation that the peoples will do their civic duty … sadly obviously a new regulation is required …

I’m glad you enjoy my posts … especially the history …

@ Andrea – yes I realised Canada is celebrating 150 years this year … it is a tangible number – but it always amazes how far our history goes back … two thousand years and beyond …

@ Deborah – that’s great … it’s lovely to have your and everyone’s visits to the blog … it’s why I post … yes I must look into visiting the archives at some stage – it seems impressive …

Thanks everyone – lovely to have your comments and to know you appreciate the posts and history I post … cheers Hilary

@ Sandra - yes thinking back and trying to work out their life, as such, is really mind blowing isn't it ... for a great deal of it - 'they'd - the items' have been pretty upset -as they'd have been locked away for a few centuries - protected and preserved. But across that period of history ... a lot went on ...

@ Lynn - yes I was very lucky to get up and see them, if only behind glass, and then to be able to read the description was a blessing ... as someone had translated for us viewers ...

@ Anabel - it takes some thinking about handling such treasure - even back 800 years ... let alone today ... and who had custody of them ...

@ Janie - we are lucky here to have so much historically valuable information available to us ...

@ Liz - it is extraordinary that it has been kept, then protected and conserved for these centuries ...

Cheers - it was a great 'little' exhibition to see! Thanks for visiting - Hilary

A really interesting post and it is good that history is not forgotten. I am glad that all the old items are well preserved and looked after. Interesting that William had it written out in English and not in French:-)Keep well Diane

This gave me the chills. What a treasure trove of history. William was very smart. If he hadn't allowed commerce to continue, he would have had a non-tax paying public who were disgruntled, to say the least. And didn't the Battle of Hastings actually take place in the town that is called Battle, just outside Hastings? Small point, but I've always wondered if that bit of history I remember from somewhere is true. You keep me wanting another journey to GB. I'll be close this fall, but will be visiting those Norman folk instead. I'll wave across the Channel.

@ Marja - I must look look around the area where the Guildhall is situated and 'inspect' further! Yes ... I think there's only one Conquering William - the one we have presently seems a peace loving King in waiting. The Square Mile is a nickname for the City ...

@ Diane - I think we'd have difficulty forgetting history ... remembering all that happened is another matter! It was interesting to see that William acknowledged English and the English ways ... it meant he rarely visited England once he'd settled its security through his appointees.

@ Mike - many thanks ...

@ Lee - yes rather a lot of history here in the UK and yes, William was smart ... he maintained the commercial aspects of life, extracted some taxes and then was able to live in France most of the time.

Re where William and Harold fought - they think they've worked out where the battle (death of Harold) took place and it's just on the fringes of Battle - yes the town of Battle in Sussex, inland from Hastings. He landed here just outside Eastbourne - miles from Hastings! - and had to skirt inland, or sail across, before he could get to Senlac Hill where William and his force waited, for the English to turn up - it is thought the English and Normans met in Battle - now Battle.

Yes please wave across 'Le Manche' facing a little east ... as I'm further up the coast from Normandy!

@ Denise - you probably did walk over this area of London when you were here for your recent visit ... glad you enjoyed your visit though ...

@ Mark - there's so much to see here ... I get overwhelmed - which I think is why I prefer smaller exhibitions - though I do the others too. What a treat to be able to visit your wife over here when she was studying and you were still both in College ...

@ Chrys - yes well preserved they are and now well conserved too. Those books are huge aren't they ... and would make a good journal ...

@ Joanne - many thanks ... it was lovely to be able to get to see this exhibition, small though it was ... a treasure of history in two small items ...

Thanks so much to you all for visiting - delighted you enjoyed the post and its history ... cheers Hilary

For me as an American, this is amazing. I was taught none of this, nor had I picked any of it up in my reading. All I can say is - how interesting!!! The Unknown Journey Ahead agingonthespectrum.blogspot.com

And here I go, off into a deep (if pointless) ponder over how very small the imposing and fearsome structures of yesteryear are now -- grandeur reduced to something you have to squint at in the corner of pictures to pick out at all. Today’s conclusion: I do not think I care much for the scale of our modern world...

@ DeeDee - well that's great if you're going to get over to see us and some of England.

@ Jean - that's why they use vellum, and ink on vellum, it does last over time; also I guess anything to do with the City - they'd have kept very safe ... and shows what can be done.

I was pleased to see the text explanation ("translation") displayed so I could take a photo and let you see it; also it's so short and to the point - I'm glad you appreciated seeing it.

@ Jacqui - William kept us on our toes right from the beginning ... waiting for Harold to turn up on the south coast to begin battle ... then setting out to administer his new kingdom (ie not losing it).

@ Bookworm - well I'm delighted you enjoyed the post and it added a little knowledge of our early life here in England ... history is fascinating ...

@ Jz - I know life is very different along the generations isn't it and today we certainly can understand more of our early ancestors and their way of life ... so today's life does pale into insignificance - yet it is a layer upon many layers of life on earth ... where we'll be in a few more millennia is another matter! Delighted that these two tiny pieces of history gave you food to think about!

@ Betsy - I know we have lots of history here ... in fact I think they've just found something that's in existence but was used in the Neolithic era (4,000 BC - 2,000 BC - ie six thousand years ago) ... that mind-boggles me!

Yes - you are about to celebrate 241 years aren't you ...

Cheers to you all - and from here I can send you murky thoughts - we are sitting in a cloudy-mist of damp! England! Take care - Hilary

Amazing. Our (colonial) history on this side of the Atlantic pales in comparison. I really want to visit Europe some day to see all these treasures and artifacts. Will we still be allowed to travel to England from the mainland? :-P

Fascinating, Hilary! The Guildhall itself is something to behold - let alone the history it holds within. I'd never heard about 'The Square Mile'. Thanks for the enlightenment! Somehow I am relieved to know that Poo Patrol was mandated long before it became a necessity at my house ;-)

@ CD - yes, well the Romans travelled up to us, we absorbed them and as much of their history as we could and then the Angles, Saxons, Vikings, Normans all came too - we're happy with what they've left us! Then some of you decided to leave us ... some of us stayed - history is an agglomeration of many things ... just much of ours is recorded over the centuries ...

@ Sandra - many thanks - it's so fascinating putting some of the historical puzzle pieces into context. Yes William was ruthless, but he knew good business and administration ...

@ Diedre - the Guildhall is an incredible place that keeps reminding us it is there via the art, the Roman amphitheatre underneath, the small exhibitions it puts on, the Library, and various City of London events ... it's a central hub.

@ Sherry- it was a very special tiny exhibition - and I was delighted to be able to visit. Our language has evolved, still is I think!

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About Me

A lover of life – who after London, spent time in South Africa; an administrator, sports lover, who enjoys cooking and entertaining ... who through her mother’s illness found a new passion – writing, in particular blogging; which provides an opportunity for future exploration, by the daughter, who has (in her 3rd age years) found a love of historical education. Curiosity didn’t kill this cat – interaction is the key! Now moved to Vancouver Island, Canada for 'a while' - not forever ...